Blue / Gray

[chazwicke]

This is a show that I attend every year. I want to post a plug for it as it really is a worthwhile event. So here it is:

Well time is drawing near for the upcoming annual Blue Gray Breweriana show in Fredericksburg, VA. Mark your calendars for February 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th for the best Breweriana and Beer Collectables event in the East. Plus plenty of free micro brews.

This long running show is sponsored by several local and regional chapters of the BCCA and NABA. (Capitol City, Richbrau, Sports Cans & Rusty Bunch) It has grown to rival the national conventions and is thought to be better by many.

Not only does this show attract collectors but also brewers and beer aficionados as well. There is plenty of free microbrews available in the hospitality room much of it brought in by the brewers themselves. There are beers from as far away as Michigan, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, and North Carolina. And from such well known breweries as Bells, Great Lakes, Middle Ages, Blue Point, Paper City and most of the local Mid-Atlantic breweries. Here is a sampling of the beers that were poured last year:

2005 Blue & Gray Beer List

¼ Barrels
Bru Rm Porter
Red Hook ESB
Red Hook IPA

Firkins
Bru Rm English Bitter
Bru Rm Cask Conditioned Kilt Lifter Ale
Rock Bottom Cask Conditioned Porter

5 Gallon
Appalachian Abbey Road Ale
Appalachian Grinnin’ Grizzly
Appalachian Hoppy Trails IPA
Appalachian Water Gap Wheat
Bru Rm Expresso Stout
Bru Rm Pale Ale (3)
Bru Rm Toasted Pilsner
New England Amber Ale

1/6 Barrels
Blue Point Hoptical Illusion
Blue Point Oatmeal Stout
Blue Point Toasted Pilsner
Bru Rm Expresso Stout
Bru Rm Kilt Lifter Ale
Fordham Lager (3)
Legacy Euphoria Ale (2)
Legacy Triple H

½ Barrels
Bell’s Brown Ale
Blue & Gray Fred Red
Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout
Carolina Amber Ale (2)
Carolina Sky Blue Ale
Climax IPA
Climax Nut Brown Ale
Clipper City Golden Ale
Clipper City Small Craft Warning Ale
Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel
Gordon Biersch Dunkles
Gordon Biersch Marzen
Great Lakes Holy Moses
Heurich’s Foggy Bottom Ale
Heurich’s Foggy Bottom Lager (2)
Lancaster Hop Hog Ale
Lancaster Milk Stout
Lancaster Pilsner
Middle Ages Winter Ale
New Holland Full Circle All Malt
New Holland Poet Stout
Paper City Nut Brown Ale
Red Hook Nut Brown Ale
Red Hook Winterhook
St. George’s Nut Brown Ale
St. George’s Summer Ale
Stoudt’s Maibock
Terre Haute CV Bock
Top of the Hill IPA
Top of the Hill Porter
Top of the Hill Summer Ale
Top of the Hill Wit
West Virginia Appalachian Ale
West Virginia Bitter
West Virginia Blackwater Stout
West Virginia Ned’s Pale Ale (2)
Willoughby Porter

The show is held at the Ramada Inn Hotel, 5324 Jefferson Davis Hwy. In Fredericksburg, VA. (Route 1 North at Exit 126) There is a $10.00 entrance fee, which includes a badge allowing access to the hospitality room.

Whether you are a collector of beer and brewery items, beer/brewery historian, or just a lover of great craft beers, this event is one that you should attend

[Beer Monkey]

this looks like an interesting event, chaz what did you think of the previous ones you've been too?

[chazwicke]

Well since I helped set up the first two shows twenty five years ago..........:D

I'm in both the Capitol City and Richbrau Chapters and I find lots of good breweriana there and I've known a lot of the people for years. But I always enjoy it. I usually go down starting on Tuesday. And every year the beers get better and better. Lots of brewers come. Usually there is a couple of kegs running in the hospitality room at a time and there is room to room dealing for the breweriana. During the day many people set up tables to display their goods. Most evenings pizzas are brought in at dinner time but there is also an official banquet one night. I go to hang out and chat with friends, drink the beers, and pick up items for my collection. Sometimes I sell items or trade. Sometimes I stay the whole show. Sometimes I go a day here and a day there. It is a good time.

[Insidious Rex]

So... $10 and you can peruse and drink to your hearts content? Thats quite a beer list. Is this as much a tasting as a breweriana show? Or do they make the beer available for folks who have come to shop and trade and show their wares first and foremost?

[chazwicke]

That is last years list. All the beers are donated by the way. There will be some good ones this year as well. It is primarily a Breweriana show. but often folks hang out in the hall near or in the hospitality suite to enjoy the beer. You can peruse all the rooms in the hotel to buy, sell, trade with other collectors or dealers. and stop in for a beer when ever your empty or just hang out 24 hours a day in the hospitality room. Remember, we usually have 2 taps flowing at all times. And the beers are put on in random order. Some of the brewers will have special taps set up in their rooms. Which they may or may not offer. Usually though if you are in a room chatting they will offer some of their "private stock". I usually get there the day before the show officially starts and have an early look as the dealers are setting up. then during the days of the show I'm usually hanging somewhere near the hospitality room.:D

[Beer Monkey]

hey just wanted to see if anyone had any more info on this? I'm planning on going with a few friends but will probably only make it for friday evening and saturday

[chazwicke]

There will be three taps flowing at any given time. The kegs are put on in random order. There will be lots of great breweriana if any of you are collectors. I'm not certain what times I'm gonna be there yet. Probably earlier in the week and then again on the weekend. I've got a pregnant woman who could have her baby anytime this month and another employee who was in a car accident and is out for an extended period so I have 2 key people out of my office and that means I might actually have to do some work myself. Otherwise I'd be there Tuesday afternoon to the weekend. The Belgian fest at Max's in Baltimore is on Saturday and Sunday and I'd like to make that too.

[chazwicke]

I've been told that the plans for the show are proceding nicely. The beer list keeps getting longer as more brewers confirm what they will be bringing or sending.

[chazwicke]

Despite the recent fire at BruRm Jeff Browning has confirmed that the beer he is bringing was alread pulled and will be arriving safely with him early this week.:)

[chazwicke]

It happens this week. I'm bumping this thread as a reminder. Take a look at the first post and see what beers were there last year. That will give you an idea of what to expect this year.

[chazwicke]

We emptied 13 kegs last night and there were several kegs in the private rooms too. I finally got to sample Oberon from a 5l keg and there were beers from Goose Island, BruRm, Two WVA breweries, and more. I'n fact I've been commissioned to pick up a couple more kegs donated by some local brewers today. But we've got plenty more down there.

[Beer Monkey]

very cool really lookin forward to checking this out, bummed that I can't be there before saturday...

[chazwicke]

Just got this from Jason Oliver:

I'll be heading down to the Blue and Gray Brewerania Show for my fourth
year. I already sent a keg of our Schwartz Bier and one of our Baltic
Porter. Scott from Tyson's Corner sent Czech Lager and Hefeweizen. If you
haven't been, its a great time. Pay the exhibitor fee, I think $9 and you
get all the beer you can drink for the whole weekend. Plus there is some
pretty cool stuff to look at and buy.

By the way, my current seasonals at GBDC are Czech Lager and Baltic Porter.
The latter comes in at 8% alcohol and blends flavors of Bocks, Schwartz
Biers, and Porters. It is made with German malts and Polish hops. The next
seasonal beer is due out mid-February and is a single hopped Keller Pils
hopped with Hallertauer Hersbrucker.

Jason Oliver
Gordon Biersch
Washington, DC

[chazwicke]

Thanks Jason!, I'll be picking up kegs today from Pete Velez of Cap City Union Station and Dean Lake of Rock Bottom Ballston to take down this afternoon. We went through 13 kegs of some really excellent beers yesterday. Including some from Goose Island, Bells, And BruRm. There are plenty more to be had.! Thanks to all those brewers that have donated beer. It is certainly appreciated! We hope most of you can make it down. (The one time registration fee is actually $10.00).

The show is held at the Ramada Inn Hotel, 5324 Jefferson Davis Hwy. In
Fredericksburg, VA. (Route 1 North at Exit 126) There is a $10.00 entrance
fee, which includes a badge allowing access to the hospitality room.

Whether you are a collector of beer and brewery items, beer/brewery
historian, or just a lover of great craft beers, this event is one that you
should attend

Thanks again on behalf of Rayner Johnson, Capitol City, Richbrau, Sports Cans, & Rusty Bunch Chapters of the collectors organizations.

Chuck Triplett

[Beer Monkey]

What a great event, went down with another couple. Everyone had a blast, everyone who was there was super friendly and knowledgeable. definatly gonna be adding to my list of events to hit Every year.

Thanks to all who were involved in this.

[chazwicke]

I was not there on Saturday as we headed east to the beach but I was there from Tues - Fri evening. Lots of great beers and I even added some Virginia labels to my collection. Tons of great breweriana. And I learned a great deal about Character Steins and Skull Steins of which I own one antique. Always a fun event.
Did you end up collecting anything? Many folks come down and drink the beer and end up starting a collection because they find something that interests them. Glad you enjoyed it! It is always held Presidents day weekend.

[Beer Monkey]

I got pretty lucky found a few tap handles that I had been looking for as well as a couple I didn't know I was looking for. also picked up a few glasses that were on my wish list.

definatly plan on making this a regular event, hopefully with more time down there then just the last day. be nice when there is a larger inventory of stuff to choose from.

[chazwicke]

Yep. Most of my deals are done on the first day. ;)

I was thinking I would not find anything this year when a buddy of mine announced he was selling off part of his collection and only concentrating on Pre pro stuff. He walked away with about a grand of my money. I know most of the folks who are annual attendees and many of us save stuff for other guys that we know who collect specific items.

I'd say Thursday is probably the best day to wheel and deal. Did you go to all of the rooms in the hotel as well as just the tables on the floor?

The Ramada is always sold out and so is the Howard Johnsons across the street.

Glad you found some stuff. What beers were on while you were there?

[zoom6zoom]

Work kept me from getting down there, but I did stop at the brewery today and picked up a growler of the Chocolate Raspberry Stout. Yum!! They were on the last keg when I was there.

[ClockworkOrange]

Sound's like a great time and an excellent opportunity to sample some good beer. I'm marking my calendar for next year.

[chazwicke]

Ten bucks registration for 4 days of unlimited beer. Four taps run 24 hours a day. All the breweriana is secondary. I'll publish a final list of the beers that were served when I get it.

[chazwicke]

BUMP! A great show reminder.